Boatright plans crosstie plant in Chilton County, Alabama

Boatright Companies is building a crosstie plant in Chilton County, Ala., a $55 million investment with plans to have 100 workers by the end of next year. The new 400,000-square-foot facility on 100 acres in the Chilton County Industrial Park will put the Boatright plant on a CSX rail line and give the company the ability to more than double its current railroad tie production capacity.

Denver RTD receives two sound proposals for I-225 rail project

The Denver Regional Transportation District received two competitive proposals for the I-225 Light Rail Project.

Maintenance-of-Way Challenges: Automated tie inspection

Automated crosstie evaluation systems work toward removing  subjectivity and improving accuracy of crosstie inspections.

High-speed rail grinding and metal removal

Controlling grinding speed allows for the amount of metal removal to be fine-tuned and results in improved effectiveness and utilization of grinding operations.

Not quite the end of the line

To all my faithful readers, this will be the last monthly installment of “Chicago Perspective.” I thank you for giving me a platform for 13 years where my thoughts, opinions, theories and assessments of the industry have been allowed to flourish.  

Illinois to St. Louis HSR corridor enters final stage of construction

The Illinois Department of Transportation and Union Pacific are beginning the final phase of 2012 upgrades to Illinois’ signature high-speed route, Chicago-St. Louis, for future high-speed Amtrak trains.

FASTRACK returns to the NYCT’s Lexington Avenue Line

Metropolitan Transportation Authority New York City Transit is bringing FASTRACK back to the Lexington Avenue Line.

Port of Coos Bay preps for next phase of rail line rehabilitation

The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay issued documents and is seeking bids for the 2012 Major Track Rehabilitation Project. This is the largest reconstruction phase to date related to the Coos Bay Rail Line rehabilitation.

CTA Purple Line viaduct project progresses

Crews are continuing work on the Chicago Transit Authority Purple Line viaduct at Greenleaf Street in Evanston. Rail service along the Purple Line will be temporarily suspended from the Howard Terminal to the Davis Street station Friday, June 8 until 4 a.m. Monday, June 11.

Manufacturer rep agency, Railliance, Inc., launches

Industry sales veteran Eric Schook has formed Railliance, Inc., a manufacturer’s rep agency specifically focused on rail (freight, transit and industrial) industries. Schook has nearly 20 years of experience in domestic and international railway supply with Cattron, Hirschmann and Ansaldo STS.

BNSF plans $65 million capital program in New Mexico

BNSF plans to invest an estimated $65 million on track and rail capacity improvement projects in New Mexico this year.

CP awards Parsons-LifeSpan structural monitoring contract

Parsons has been awarded a contract by Canadian Pacific for the structural monitoring and advanced condition assessment of its La Crosse Rail Bridge. The bridge was one of the first 15 bridges built across the Mississippi River and it spans between La Crescent, Minn., and La Crosse, Wis.

CTA to rebuild 10-mile stretch of Red Line

The Chicago Transit Authority plans to take on one of the biggest CTA construction projects in CTA history: the complete reconstruction of the South Red Line from Cermak-Chinatown to 95th Street.

SANDAG begins construction on Sorrento to Miramar Double Track Project

The San Diego Association of Governments started construction on Phase 1 of the Sorrento to Miramar Double Track Project, one of 20 capital improvement projects now in development along San Diego County’s 60-mile segment of the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo rail corridor (LOSSAN).

BNSF to invest $80 million in Arizona track maintenance

BNSF plans to invest an estimated $80 million on maintenance and rail capacity improvement projects in Arizona this year.

UP plans $19 million capital program in Colorado and Wyoming

Union Pacific is enhancing transportation infrastructure in Colorado and Wyoming by investing more than $19 million.

LACMTA begins advanced utility relocation work for Crenshaw/LAX light-rail

Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has begun the advanced utility relocation work for the Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor construction project, which is the first contract awarded under LACMTA’s new Project Labor Agreement, a pact between LACMTA and the building trades to implement a targeted hiring program that will help provide jobs to economically disadvantaged workers.

AECOM to design Toronto’s Air Rail Link spur

AECOM was named lead design subconsultant to a joint venture contracted to design, build and finance a spur line and passenger station as part of Ontario’s Air Rail Link (ARL). The ARL will connect the existing Georgetown GO transit line and link the city’s two busiest transportation hubs – Union Station downtown and Toronto Pearson International Airport.

BNSF plans $306 million capital program in three states

BNSF plans to invest an estimated $306 million on maintenance and rail capacity improvements in California, Minnesota and North Dakota in 2012.

CTC allocates $37.6 million to Baldwin Ave. grade separation project

The California Transportation Commission voted to allocate $37.6 million in state bond funds to construct the Baldwin Avenue grade separation project in the City of El Monte. The award of funds will permit the Alameda Corridor-East Construction Authority to prepare to release the project for bids from contractors.

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